South Australians can now apply to undertake tertiary study in surveying and geospatial information systems (GIS) at Flinders University.
From next year, the new Bachelor of Surveying (B.Surv) is part of a four-year degree with the Bachelor of Geospatial Information Systems (B.GIS).
The four-year degree will ensure students can acquire the skills needed in South Australia to become Licenced Surveyors, and pursue an important career in future housing and development projects.
Information on the new course will be available at Flinders University’s Open Days or the course webpage.
Working with the SA Government’s Built Environment Education Liaison Group, the Surveyor General and the Surveyors Board of SA, the new double degree aims to train local talent to address a skills shortage in built environment roles.
Major infrastructure projects rely on surveyors to set out bridges, tunnels, and roads, or re-establish existing property boundaries and create new ones.
The Flinders University course will be a four-year double-degree Bachelor of Geospatial Information Systems (BGIS) / Bachelor of Surveying (BSU) with a common first year. Applications are now open via SATAC.
The BGIS-BSU will be available from 2024, meaning first year BGIS students in 2023 can transfer to the second year of the double degree next year.
Flinders University is also in discussions with TAFE SA to plot extra tertiary options and recognition pathways into the Bachelor of Surveying double degree.
Launching the initiative at Flinders University this week, the Planning Minister and Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion says the courses will help address the rising demand for built environment professions amid a nationwide skills shortage.
“Graduates will play a vital role in addressing skills shortages in our State, helping to tackle the housing crisis,” says Mr Champion.
“We want South Australians learning and developing their careers here rather than heading interstate for study.”
Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling says the new course will “leverage our strengths in engineering, environment, technology and business, and help deliver the highly skilled expertise required to meet current and emerging planning and infrastructure demands”.
‘Flinders University recognises that addressing the workforce shortage in surveying – an area of critical need – is vital to our state’s ability to grow and prosper and find solutions to the issues around housing shortages.
“We’re committed to supporting the State Government’s vision for a locally developed highly skilled workforce to deliver complex outcomes in sustainable planning.”
SA’s Surveyor-General Bradley Slape also praised the establishment of this new advanced double degree at Flinders University.
“The skills shortage we are facing both locally and nationally will directly impact our capacity to service infrastructure projects and the property needs of South Australians.
“Flinders University will be delivering a degree that safeguards a pipeline of talent and built environment professionals.”
Bachelor of Geospatial Information Systems – Bachelor of Surveying (B.GIS-B.Surv)
Degree Structure: Double degree over 4 years
Degree commencement: Semester 1 2024 with both 1st and 2nd years.
